Ingredient Science

It’s freaking science, dude!

Here it is. The full-on nutritional breakdown of Picky Bars. These are the principles that have guided us in the creation of that tasty gem you know and love. If you would rather just say, “Mmmm, these are so good,” don’t worry about reading what is below. However, if you are a nutrition geek like many of us, read on.

Ingredients:

Agave

Organic

This all-star natural sweetener is a great alternative to sugar. Produced from the Blue Agave Plant, it has been used for centuries. This delicious sugar alternative also contains iron, calcium, and zinc.

Dates

Organic

Dates are the real stud of Picky Bars. These little buggers are a naturally sweet carbohydrate source that helps replace glycogen stores after a workout. They contain Calcium and Magnesium and many other vitamins and minerals. What most impressed us was that they got a 6600 TE score (which measures antioxidant content), beating out all other fruits and vegetables. Dates even beat the best berries by 1000 points! Eat a handful of those bad boys by themselves and you may get a sugar spike, but as part of our balanced recipe, they are perfect.

Blueberries

Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant ratios of any food which helps neutralize free radicals, boost immune system, and prevent infection. The little buggers are high in Vitamin C and fiber to keep you in the highest form of health.

Rice Protein Powder

It turns out there are all sorts of health problems associated with consuming too much soy, and yet you find it in most energy bars (because its cheap). We like to diversify our plant protein sources, and this is our favorite. Plant enzymes are used under low temperatures to separate out the proteins without brutalizing the amino acids. It’s bomb diggity.

Cinnamon

We only use a little bit (you might not even taste it), but the natural anti-inflammatory phyto-chemicals (eugenol and geraniol) in this spice reduce pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. Cinnamon also helps moderate blood sugar, is good for digestive function, and is a gas reliever. Yes!

Rice Cereal

Organic

We needed that extra crunch for our bars, so keeping in line with our rice ingredients, our organic rice cereal adds the perfect mix of texture and crunch. Boomshakalaka.

Natural Peanut Butter

Organic

We are in love with peanuts, and the flavor of “Lauren’s Mega Nuts” reflects that. Peanuts have lots of Niacin, which is good for the health of the digestive system, skin, and nerves. Niacin also plays a big role in releasing energy from carbohydrates to help control blood-sugar levels. Nut butter eaters have lower triglyceride levels, which is apparently awesome. They also have as high an antioxidant content as strawberries! What?! Yeah, seriously.

Natural Almond Butter

Organic

There is something unbelievably decadent about a spoonful of fresh ground almond butter: from the texture on your tongue to the immediate satisfaction you feel as it moves through your mouth. All the other scientific benefits are listed under almonds on this page.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are especially known for their high concentration of omega fatty acids. These can aid in disease prevention and promote overall health! The flavor of the hemp seeds in Blueberry Boomdizzle is minimal but the health benefits are great!

Hazelnut Butter

Clearly we are nuts so it’s only normal that we have all the nut butters covered. Hazelnuts specifically offer doses of Folate and Vitamin E which both help prevent the breakdown of unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients due to the oxidation caused by free radicals (now that’s radical reason to eat hazelnut butter).

Kosher Salt

The body needs salt to regulate the electrolyte balance inside and outside of it’s cells. We don’t use much of it in our bars, but a little salt helps us avoid cramping during our workouts.

Almonds

Organic

Many consider these a “super food” due to the fact that 70% of their fat is monounsaturated (which is linked with lower levels of heart disease and cancer, as well as longer life spans). Studies also suggest that people that eat the most nuts have the lowest body mass index! Sounds impossible, but its true. They are protein rich, and are notably high in Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin E and Magnesium.

Cranberries

Organic

These are amazing fruits. Many people know they prevent UTI’s, but did you know that they are also high in phenols? These are plant chemicals that protect against all sorts of health problems, possess anti-cancer properties and inhibit the growth of common food-borne pathogens. Plus they are tart and yummy.

Sunflower Butter

Organic

The popularity of this product is just starting to grow, and its no wonder because it is heaven. It’s also a savior for people with tree nut and peanut allergies, and gives you all the benefits of sunflower seeds (listed below). It’s high in protein and fiber, not to mention potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, and zinc. I mean, holy cow! The roastiness of this ingredient adds the distinct “oh my wow” flavor to our “Honey Roasted Sunflower” bar.

Sunflower Seeds

For something that used to be considered bird seed, these are now considered a full blown “functional food,” with the second highest levels of phytosterols of any snack food (pistachios are #1) bringing cholesterol down and supporting prostate health. These seeds (which are only used in our tree nut free bar) also have a mega amount of the trace mineral selenium, which by itself is only kinda cool, but it pairs synergistically with the high amounts of vitamin e in the seeds to fight cancer.

Apricots

Organic

These tasty little buggers are absolutely loaded with Beta Carotene and Vitamin A, and the staple food of the nutritiously notorious Hunza people who live long, healthy lives in the Himalayas.

Red Ape Cinnamon®

Organic

We use this special cinnamon in Cookie Doughpness to deliver the best flavor possible. Plus, our friends at Red Ape donate 5% of their profits to protect orangutans and their habitat. Additionally, cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory phyto-chemicals (eugenol and geraniol) that helps reduce pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. Cinnamon also helps moderate blood sugar, is good for digestive function, and is a gas reliever.

Roasted Coffee

Organic

Coffee has many health benefits (aside from feeling really productive)! Coffee helps fight the risk of cancer, diabetes, and depression. In moderate amounts caffeine is said to have a wide range of positive affects on the body and brain.

(Note- only our Smooth Caffeinator contains caffeine).

Safflower Oil

Safflower oil is rich in monosaturated healthy fats which are known to protect against heart disease. Originated from the safflower plant, this tasty alternative oil is high in Vitamin E and a healthy option!

Chocolate Chips

They make you happy. That’s all Lauren needs to know. But cocoa also has flavonoids which shield you from environmental toxins and prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from clogging arteries. Cocoa also improves insulin sensitivity in healthy people.

Honey

A real food that is a great alternative to sugar. Honey is far less processed than sugar, and has a smaller effect on blood sugar. We use raw honey from the Northwest in hopes that it will help with a few of Lauren’s 1000 allergies.

Pepitas

Organic

Pepitas are also known as pumpkin seeds. These are a turbo-food for men. The cucurbitacins in the seeds are thought to interfere with the production of DHT, (a testosterone by-product that plays a role in hair loss,) and BPH (which makes you pee several times a night). Women also benefit from the manganese in pumpkin seeds, an essential trace mineral that is pivotal for growth, reproduction, wound healing and proper metabolism of sugars and insulin.

Walnuts

Organic

Omega 3’s are brainfood and mood-boosters, and walnuts lead the nut category for Omega 3 content. So they are full of healthy fats and pack some protein at the same time!

Hazelnuts

These powerful packed nuts contain the vitamin thiamin which works to help regulate your nervous system and aid healthy muscle and cardiovascular health.